Kay Marshall Strom's sequel is almost here!

I received the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Kay Marshall Strom's next book in her Grace in Africa series just before leaving for my trip to St. Louis. Naturally I took the book with me on the plane. I thought I'd at least get a chapter or two read before dozing off, which is what I normally do on flights. Not this time! I read the final page just minutes before the plane touched down in St. Louis, and now I can't wait for book three!

The Voyage of Promise releases in October, so if you haven't already read book one of this excellent series--The Call of Zulina--do it now so you'll be ready to jump right in when this second book releases. You can order book one and pre-order book two at Amazon.com (just type in Kay Marshall Strom and start ordering)!

And Kay, get busy, would you? I REALLY want to see what happens to Grace!!!

Another AWSA picture

Here's Rhonda Rhea, named AWSA Member of the Year 2010, sitting in between Charlotte Adelsperger and yours truly during the fiction round table discussion I was leading at the AWSA conference in St. Louis.

Thanks to Photographer Charlotte Adelsperger!

Here I am with Charlotte Adelsperger, poet and photographer extraordinaire, who is responsible for all these excellent pictures I've posted so far from my St. Louis trip last week. Will post lots more as soon as I get a chance to download the ones my hubby took!

Old and New Friends Together!

To be more accurate, this is a photo of me between a relatively new friend, multi-published, award-winning author Tricia Goyer (seated on my left), and a LONG-TIME friend of several decades, Martha Bolton. Martha and I started our writing careers together and had our first publicity shots for our first books done together. What an experience that was! (We didn't know then what "glamour shots" were and ended up not using them for our book covers after all!) When we left the studio, we had so much "fat hair" on top of our heads and tons of makeup that we used the drive-through at a fast-food place to get our lunch for fear of being arrested if we went inside. (Good times!) Seriously, Martha has since authored at least a gazillion books, including several that made the NY Times bestseller list, and she worked as a staff writer for many years for the late, great Bob Hope. I never cease to be amazed at the people God connects me with as friends! Thank You, LORD!!!

Another photo from the AWSA conference

This photo was taken just before the Golden Scrolls Award Banquet. I'm standing with my dear friend and beloved "fearless flounder" of AWSA, Linda Evans Shepherd.

AWSA Friends in St. Louis

Here I am at the Golden Scrolls Award Banquet in St. Louis with my wonderful AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) sisters (from left): Rosemary Trible, Kathi Macias, Susan Wales, Susan Titus Osborn. We had a wonderful time! I'll post more soon. Blessings!

We're BACK!!!

Yes, we're back from St. Louis and I hope to catch you all up soon. Meanwhile, here is an article and a review that I hope will encourage/bless you all!

http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/women/11633752/

http://www.godspotting.net/2010/07/honoring-him-in-work-and-leisure.html